Some Thoughts on 'Shipping

If you're in literature circles, have read lit news, or have any interest in the Harry Potter series at all, then you've no doubt heard the news that JK Rowling dropped a couple weeks ago.

For anyone not already in the know, it seems she regrets not pairing Harry and Hermione in the series, instead writing Hermione with Ron (and Harry with Ginny).

“I wrote the Hermione/Ron relationship as a form of wish fulfillment. That’s how it was conceived, really. For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron.”
[JK admits Harry should have wed Hermione]

I'd seen the news here and there, on Facebook and dA and such, but didn't really think much of it. So J.K. had second thoughts on her writing, big deal.

It wasn't until I read an article on Bookish that I realized what everyone was getting out of sorts about.

Now, Let's See You Dance

~Magic Steps~
The Circle Opens
Book 1
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

Lady Sandrilene fa Toren knows all about unusual magic - she herself spins and weaves it like thread. But when she witnessed a boy dancing a spell, even she is confounded. To her dismay, Sandry learns that as the mage who discovered the power of the young dancer, she must be his teacher.

Before lessons can begin, however, Sandry and her uncle, Duke Vedris, get news of a mysterious murderer stalking a clan of local merchants. The killer employs the strangest magic of all: the ability to reduce essence to nothingness.

As the murders mount and the killer grows bolder, Sandry's teaching takes on a grave purpose. For it becomes clear to everyone that the killings can only be stopped by the combined workings of two people: the young teacher and her even younger student.


Three years have passed since the events of the last quartet. Briar, Daja and Tris have left with their teachers to study abroad, leaving Sandry alone to attend to the troubles in Summersea. It's pretty obvious from the get-go that Sandry has done some growing these past couple years. Not only is her magic more refined, but so is her attitude. She's still far from the snobbery of most Nobles or wealthy, but she is much more attuned to her status as a Noble and a mage, and what it affords and requires from her.

The Healing in the Vine

~Briar's Book~
Circle of Magic
Book 4
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

Former "street rat" Briar leads a comfortable life at Winding Circle Temple, learning plant magic from Rosethorn. But street kids are still his friends, and when one of them gets sick, she turns to Briar for help. When her disease proves beyond even Rosethorn's power, Briar realizes that all of Summersea is in danger.

As the mysterious illness spreads, Sandry, Daja, and Tris join Briar and their teachers to fight the epidemic. But just as the situation improves, the unthinkable happens.

Will Briar be able to save what he loves the most?


A fascinating look at disease and the steps taken towards finding a cure, Briar's Book serves as a staggering reminder of the mortality of even the strongest among us. Even being the longest story of the quartet, it's amazing how much is packed in. Besides plague and cure-working, there's quarantine, reflections on poverty, man-made diseases, and even a small bit on death and the afterlife.

The Fire in the Forging

~Daja's Book~
Circle of Magic
Book 3
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

Outcast Trader Daja, along with her fellow mages-in-training, journeys from Winding Circle to the Gold Ridge Mountains, where drought threatens widespread famine. There, Daja creates an astonishing object: a living metal vine. A caravan of Traders covets the vine, and Daja's dealings with her former people reawaken a longing for familiar ways.

Daja must choose—should she return to the Traders or remain with the Winding Circle folk who have become her family?


Though the other stories have dimmed in my mind a bit over the years, this story's great feat always stayed with me. There's just something about fire and bending it to your will that fascinates me. It mirrors life without having any. From working to tame a wildfire, or even simply stoking a fire in the hearth, you have to work with the fire instead of against it. I'm awed by its strength and simultaneous weakness.

But enough of my pyromania, back to the story. The jacket summary doesn't even begin to cover everything that happens in the book. Though it is the shortest of the series, there are a lot of fine details, cultural traditions, and magical workings packed in here. Fans of Pierce and her series will recognize and cherish the intricacies she puts into her world-building, language, and ever expanding magic. She knows how to pack a lot of punch in just a few pages, leaving readers more than satisfied.

The Power in the Storm

~Tris's Book~
Circle of Magic
Book 2
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

Earthquake damage leaves Winding Circle vulnerable to pirate attack, so everyone—including the young mages-in-training Tris, Briar, Daja, and Sandry—is working to strengthen the community's defenses. When Tris's cousin Aymery comes to visit, he advises the "weather witch" to return to the family that exiled her, but she doesn't wish to leave her friends to face the threat without her.

As the onslaught begins, two things become terribly clear: the pirates have a powerful new weapon, and they have an accomplice within Winding Circle. But the attackers have failed to reckon with the fury of a young mage betrayed once too often and her very stubborn, very loyal friends...


I've always related to Tris the most out of the quartet (or any of Tammy's characters, for that matter). She's bookish, intelligent, very much a realist, a bit chubby and insecure, but loyal and strong when she needs to be. That she has the most power in terms of destructive properties of the bunch only makes her more inspiring, having such a weight on her shoulders. But her friends are not about to let her carry it alone. And they're all stubborn enough not to take 'no' for an answer.

The Magic in the Weaving

~Sandry's Book~
Circle of Magic
Book 1
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

With her gift of weaving silk thread and creating light, Sandry is brought to the Winding Circle community. There she meets Briar, a former thief who has a way with plants; Daja, an outcast gifted with metalcraft; and Tris, whose connection with the weather unsettles everyone, including herself. At Winding Circle, the four misfits are taught how to use their magic—and to trust each other.

But then disaster strikes their new home. Can Sandry weave together four kinds of magical power and save herself, her friends, and the one place they have ever been accepted?


Though the story is titled Sandry's Book in the US, I kinda prefer the UK title, The Magic in the Weaving, because, well, this book isn't just about Sandry. All four of the children star in nearly every chapter, and the story is more about each of them finding acceptance than any one of them. Still, Sandry's skill is the weaving, which does assume an important role in the story, so titling the book after her isn't completely out of place.

Greetings Again!

Hello!!!

Phew, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry to have left you hanging these past couple months. I've been working out some personal things and have only just gotten back around to reading.

I know, I know - "How could you possibly not have been reading!?" you say. Well, the brain does funny things sometimes, like making you think that enjoyable things are too much trouble...

But I've worked through that and am currently in the process of working up my Tamora Pierce Challenge reviews! Okay, I might be a little behind, but better late than never, right? Look for a steady flow of TP reviews coming throughout the month of November, finishing up with a review of her recently released conclusion to the Provost's Dog (Beka Cooper) Trilogy, Mastiff!

Looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. Hope you've all been well. Signing off for now,

~Vicki

Tamora Pierce Reading Challenge

Yep, I've delved into insanity at last. I've decided to dedicate the next 3 months to one of my all-time favorite authors. Some of you followers will probably remember my various gushings about her in my reviews, Top Ten Tuesdays, or my post about her visit last October. So I think I'll let the challenge host explain what this particular insanity is all about:

So why this challenge? Well, Tamora Pierce is one of my all-time favorite authors, and she has a new book coming out October 25: Mastiff, the last book in the Beka Cooper trilogy. To celebrate, from now until October 31 I'm going to reread all of the Tamora Pierce books!

So I thought it would be fun to have others join me. I know I'm not the only one out there who's a Tamora Pierce fan, after all. So set a goal to finish a set, or re-read your favorite. And if you haven't tried her books yet, maybe you want to give them a try? She has 27 "full" books currently published, not including books that she's edited, contributed a short story to, or her comic book series for adults. So there's a little something for everyone out there.

This reading challenge is totally low pressure. You can set a goal as big or as little as you want. Choose your challenge from the list below. Some of her books are quite small and quick to finish, while others are more hefty. So pick a goal you think you can reach:

Page - A good start for beginners. Complete 1-4 books
Squire - For those ready for the next level, complete 5-8 books
Knight/Lady Knight - A steady challenge at halfway, complete 9-14 books
Duke/Duchess - For serious fans, complete 15-20 books
King/Queen - This level is for serious fans, and comes complete with a royal title, complete 21-26 books
Emperor/Empress - For diehard fans, think you can finish all 27 books?

~ Alyssa @ The Shady Glade

As for myself, I'm insane enough to attempt the Empress Level and will be reviewing all the books from now up until I receive a copy of Mastiff from the library (hopefully one of the first - I'm only 8th in queue!).

That's right, I'm tackling my entire shelf of Tamora Pierce, plus little help from the library. Really, I'm only 'missing' 3 books...and by missing, I mean haven't bought because they're not in Mass Market Paperback. Yes, I'm anal like that.

Anyway, here's my planned order for the challenge:

Emelan

Circle of Magic Quartet

1. Sandry's Book
2. Tris's Book
3. Daja's Book
4. Briar's Book

The Circle Opens Quartet

5. Magic Steps
6. Street Magic
7. Cold Fire
8. Shatterglass

The Circle Reforged Novels

9. The Will of the Empress
10. Melting Stones

Tortall

Song of the Lioness Quartet (Alanna)

11. Alanna: The First Adventure
12. In the Hand of the Goddess
13. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
14. Lioness Rampant

The Immortals Quartet (Daine)

15. Wild Magic
16. Wolf-Speaker
17. Emperor Mage
18. The Realms of the Gods

Protector of the Small Quartet (Kel)

19. First Test
20. Page
21. Squire
22. Lady Knight

Trickster Duet (Aly)

23. Trickster's Choice
24. Trickster's Queen

Short Story Collection

25. Tortall and Other Lands: A Collection of Tales

Tortall (Past)

Provost's Dog / Beka Cooper Trilogy

26. Terrier
27. Bloodhound

Of course, my insanity wouldn't be complete without me trying to set an impossible challenge for myself BESIDES 27 books in 3 months... So, I'll be trying to clean out my pending-review list before tackling the Pierce challenge. I'm hoping to get everything (10 books) read and reviewed by August 5th.

I suppose I could try pushing it back another week...but that's going to make it tough to take that week off in September for my Flordia vacation. Ah well, we'll see what happens. In any case, be on the lookout for a slew of reviews coming your way!

Book Blogger Hop (11)

What book(s) would you like to see
turned into a movie?

Frankly, I'm torn about this. On the one hand, a movie adaptation can be an amazing spectacle that enthralls fans of the book. On the other, it can repulse fans due to huge (and seemingly random/needless) deviations from the book. Then again, some adaptations have taken enormous strides away from the original material, yet successfully produced a movie that appeals to book-fans and newcomers alike (such as How to Train Your Dragon or Ella Enchanted).

I guess, if we're hoping for the best, I'd love to see Tamora Pierce's Tortall books adapted into movies. I think with technology where it is now, Alanna's story would still be the best place to start, since it has minimal need for special effects. But I'd love to eventually see Stormwings and Spidrens running amok with Daine or Kel.

But please, PLEASE let the screenwriters be great!

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

Book Blogger Hop (9)

What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?

Oh gosh, how can you expect me to narrow it down to one?!

Well, if I really must, I suppose I'll go with Mastiff by Tamora Pierce, which is scheduled to come out in November. Not only do I love her books in general, but Mastiff is the conclusion to the Provost's Dog Trilogy with Beka. And I'm a sucker for a good ending ;)

Close runners up include Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers, City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, and (hopefully) Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore.

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

When You're On A Hunt, You Do Whatever It Takes

Being the second book in a series, this review may contain slight spoilers for the first book, Terrier. I'd suggest you read the book, or at the very least my previous review before reading this.

~Bloodhound~
Provost's Dog
Book 2
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

No one said growing up would be easy.

Beka's back, now graduated from Puppy-hood and patrolling the streets as a full-fledged Dog. Unfortunately, the Lower City hasn't gotten any easier to handle, especially with rumors of a grain shortage making prices and tempers rise. And if riots weren't enough to keep the Dogs busy, Beka's also on the hunt for a coin counterfeiter who seems set on collapsing the economy entirely.

Good thing Beka's not short of friends she can count on. Between her partners Goodwin and Tunstall, her magical cat companion Pounce, and her friends in the Court of the Rogue, she expects there's nothing that can keep her from catching the mastermind behind the counterfeits. But when the trail leads away to Port Caynn, Beka finds herself losing her familiar company in exchange for new faces. Sure, Achoo the scent-hound should come in handy, but what about this overly charming Dale Rowan and his lot?

It won't be enough for Beka to be her usual "terrier" self. She'll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals—to be a bloodhound.


Once again, I've got to hand it to whoever writes the jacket description for these books, whether it be Tammy herself, or one of the people at Random House. It's descriptive yet concise, intriguing yet mysterious, and perhaps most importantly, it doesn't spoil anything. Well, perhaps one thing...but it's not that big. I just couldn't help but quote it again, if only for the last lines.

Pierce in Portland + NaNo Notes

Last week, on the 18th, I had the opportunity to meet one of my author idols, Tamora Pierce.

The event was held downtown, at The Old Church, and was attended by (I'm guessing) upwards of 200 teens, parents, and avid fans of an older variety (such as myself).

There were even a couple cosplayers dressed as Beka Cooper and Barzha Razorwing (Stormwing Queen).

After a short reading from Bloodhound and introduction of her experience as a writer, she then opened the floor up for questions.

Time was short, as it was a school night, so not all the questions were gotten to. Luckily, she was quite talkative afterward during the signing. I had wanted to ask her, "Is there a good rule of thumb for deciding whether or not to kill off a character?" ...But I chickened out and merely asked her, "If you could go to a book signing by any author, alive or dead, who would it be?"

She replied without hesitation:
Neil Gaiman or Stephen King

Of course, as you can see, my picture taking skills leave a bit to be desired. This is partly the fault of the location—lighting was horrible—and partly my own fault for not coming out and asking for a picture.

Oh well, just something to shoot for the next time!

You can listen to (and download) a podcast of the event here.

Keep in mind that she wandered around the stage (and away from the microphones), so you might need to adjust the volume throughout.

And here are my spoils for the evening:

♀ rule!

Alright, technically I got this one signed 2 years ago in Chicago...
But here's what I got that night!

Good luck at NaNoWriMo!

♀ rule!

May you always get
the right idea
at the right time-

Which leads me to my next point...

I'm participating in this year's NaNoWriMo!

Or, at least I'm going to try.

I know I still have work I need to be doing, and I hate to just up and abandon the blog for a month (again)...

Well, there I go, already making excuses for myself.

Alright, bottom line.
I'm going to try to have fun with it.
I'm going to try for the 50,000 word mark.
I'm going to try and continue reading and reviewing.

And I would love for your support.
If you're participating, go ahead and look me up,
Add me as a Writing Buddy!

And wish me luck!

Dig Your Teeth In And Don't Let Go!

I've been a long-time fan of Tamora Pierce's books. In fact, she was one of the first (if not the first) authors who introduced me to the realm of fantasy and strong heroines. Before now, I would say my favorite heroine was Tris from the Circle of Magic series: she's stubborn, bookish, a bit plump, and easily riled, but her loyalty and friendship are true.

However, even with Tris as my favorite character, the Tortall books have always been my preference. Alanna's bravery captured my heart, Daine's abilities won my adoration, Kel's determination earned my respect, and Ali's cunning stole my imagination. But even more, the world was one of medieval grandeur. It was rich and detailed, but at the same time open to imagination and interpretation. It was both historically realistic and fantastical with magic and mythology woven in.

Not only that, but with each series, characters we had already grown to love would make reappearances. It was always a joy to see a familiar face even as you're reading along with another heroine's journey.

This time, however, we're given a series set about 150 years before Alanna's journey began. That security blanket is gone, and we're forging ahead alone once again...

~Terrier~
Provost's Dog Trilogy
Book 1
By Tamora Pierce
Amazon ~ Powell's

In 246 H.E., the Provost's Dogs guard Tortall's capital city. Beka Cooper is one of their newest trainees—a Puppy wet behind the ears but eager to learn. But Beka will have to learn faster than she bargained for because she's assigned to the Lower City, Corus's toughest district. It's filled with pickpockets who are fast as lightning, rogues who will knock your teeth out with a smile, and murderers with hidden plans.

Luckily, Beka's got a few tricks up her sleeve. Gifted with the ability to hear murdered spirits, she's already discovered two separate killing sprees. Unfortunately, the dead aren't very detailed, and going on half the facts can get a Dog killed. It'll take all of Beka's smarts and skills if she's going to track down these murderers. If she doesn't get killed in the meantime....


I must admit, Terrier was a wonderful break from the slough of paranormal YA I've been reading recently. Nothing against any of those books, mind you, but this book was a welcome breath of fresh air. It has action, mystery, investigation, and just that tiny hint of magic that lets you know anything's possible. The magic is there, but it's more of a whisper than a major player, leaving the characters to rely on more 'conventional' methods.

Q is for Quidditch

Quidditch, Quaffle, Quills, Quirrell, Quibbler... So many Q words associated with just one series. And that, of course, is Harry Potter.

I joined the HP craze a little later than some. I remember seeing the books in stores, with their vibrant covers, and thinking them too young for someone like myself (then in middle school). It wasn't until my dad brought me the first book home from a business trip that I finally gave them a chance.

And I was hooked for life.

That was after the 3rd book was out, and I only had a short time more to wait for (my favorite) the 4th book. And then, after 2000 everyone was holding contests for guessing when the 5th book would be released (since it had yet to be announced). Remember that? The anticipation of fans, the mystery of the publishing industry, the wonder of the world as children were suddenly scrambling to bookstores...

Of course, my group of friends weren't acting any differently than usual. We'd always been bookish, and so the only difference we went through was having more people to talk to. In fact, I don't think I truly understood the impact of it all until I'd graduated high school (just before the 6th book was released in 2005).

Going into college, I started using the social networks, Facebook and MySpace, and joined my first HP fansite—the now defunct Dissendium. That was quite the eye-opener. Getting to know fellow fans, enthusiasts, and addicts all around the world, and interacting with them through contests, chats, and (eventually) written-role-play...I don't think I'll ever be the same.

In 2008 I was able to attend my first HP convention: Terminus in Chicago. Though a bunch of my online friends had planned on going, various hardships came up and I ended up attending alone. I still had a blast, though, and was able to meet and listen to fellow fans from around the country, and the world.

One of the presentations I was most excited to attend was a speech by one of my favorite authors, Tamora Pierce. She talked about how Harry Potter changed the world of YA, from a fellow YA author's perspective. Having written YA lit since the 1980s, she knows the hurdles one had to jump through. Not only were the rules strict as far as content, but the length of books was severely restricted. After all, 'kids will get scared if the book's that big!'

"And then we got the Goblet of Fire... THANK YOU J.K. ROWLING!!!" Suddenly her books change from struggling to stay under the 300 line to sitting comfortably at 390 and 410. And suddenly YA isn't a taboo term anymore. There's no embarrassment in saying you write YA lit, and there's no snooty looks at you either. Harry Potter showed that kids like to read and (more importantly for the publishing industry) will buy (bigger) books.

But the books have turned into movies, and as we approach the final chapters we, the fans, have to start considering...what next? Sure, there's fanfiction, there's Wrock (Wizard Rock), there's millions of fan-sites...but how long will it last?

As I've mentioned before, I moderate a role-play site dedicated to writing original characters interacting in the HP universe. Diffindo has had its ups and downs, though we seem to be on a bit of a down at the moment, and recently we've been enacting a bit of a restart. Our old storylines had fallen flat, our characters were frozen, and we needed something new.

And what better way to start afresh than attending the Quidditch World Cup?! As of right now we've just completed the two semi-final matches and are gearing up for the final match: Egypt VS England. And the RP is pretty engaging thus far. I think everyone's enjoying creating new characters and interacting all together.

Well, that's my Harry Potter journey. What's yours?

A Couple Q Movies I've Seen:
(Again, No Books)

A Quintessential Q Artist:

The Q Font:

Book Blogger Hop (2)

Oi! What am I doing?!
Didn't I learn anything from the LAST time?!

Well, we'll see how it goes this time...
So here goes...

Tell us about some of your
Favorite Authors 
and
Why They Are Your Favorites!

Well, okay then.

~ Tamora Pierce ~
She introduced me to a world of strong, kick-butt heroines:
Alanna conquered my heart with her fiery passion
Daine won it with sheer magical awesomeness
Kel earned it with her determiniation
Sandry spun it a comfy nest
Tris showed it a soulmate
Daja won its admiration
and Alianne tricked it outright, but it loves her nonetheless.

~ Patricia Briggs ~

She was my introduction to Urban Fantasy (and werewolves) that rocked. After a horrible experience with Twilight, I was pretty desperate; surely someone had to know how vampires and werewolves were supposed to be! I got more than I bargained for when my dad got me Briggs' books. Not only was this paranormal society fantastically crafted, but it was presented through the eyes of another kick-butt heroine! And not only is the main character amazing, but practically every 'secondary' character is developed enough to lead a story! I have to admit, I'm a little tempted to go looking for a Ben of my own...

~ Diane Duane ~
Coming off of a Harry Potter buzz, and slightly forlorn at the diminishing prospect of receiving a letter from Hogwarts, Duane's Young Wizard series offered me a readily available alternative. Why wait for a silly piece of parchment to tell you there was magic when it's already so accessible in the world around us? Her world is not only whimsical and awe-inspiring, but calculated and real enough for those of us less open-minded. Needless to say, I don't feel at all foolish walking around with these 'kids' books.

~ Eoin Colfer ~
Having first found him through his Artemis Fowl series, I loved and laughed with his quirky characters. Then I found and bought his unrelated book, The Wish List, and found it surprisingly insightful and complex, with the main characters relatable and driving the plot. Finally, with his update to the Hitchhiker's series, I was once again taken by his characters to an extent even Adams hadn't managed. Colfer's books are driven by characters, pure and simple, and it's an amazing ride every time.

~ J.K. Rowling ~
I really don't have much to say about Rowling that hasn't already been said. She created a world that captured my imagination for the better part of 10 years. In the down-times between books I found fellow fans and made lifelong friends. These friends and I continued our adventures within her world long after the books were done. I thank her for her unending contribution to my life and the lives of so many others.

Feel free to post a link to your own blog in the comments,
and be sure to check out other blog-hoppers at Crazy-for-Books' blog!

In semi-related news, I'll be trying my hardest to read the last 4 Young Wizards books this weekend.
Continued reviews should be up shortly.